New tool launched to give the UK public a voice on how to tackle climate crisis

Cross-party think tank Demos has teamed up with WWF, National Grid, and ScottishPower to ask people across the UK to consider how we should get on track to reach net zero carbon emissions over this decade.

With just over 100 days to go until international leaders gather in Glasgow for COP26, the UK public can use the Climate Calculator to choose their preferred package of solutions for tackling climate change.

When making choices, users will be shown the direct impact on jobs, household budgets and other aspects of their lifestyle. The new tool will, for the first time, enable people to see how impactful different policies would be in order for the UK to meet its 2030 climate targets.

The Climate Calculator is designed to be accessible and easy to use, including for those who are not climate change experts, and it can take just five minutes to complete. Some examples of the different options people can choose from include:

• How ambitious the government should be on transport and expanding public transport and cycling. For example, whether there should be more investment in buses and cycling or a 60mph speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• How quickly low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps should be installed in homes across the UK, and how this should be paid for. For example, should it be covered by the taxpayer, or paid for through energy bills?
• How can we reduce greenhouse gases in manufacturing and construction; for example, should high carbon goods cost more, and if so, should any money raised be used to compensate households for these costs?
• How changing UK food production might free up land for planting the right trees in the right places and creating new habitats for wildlife

Isabella O’Dowd, Head of Climate Change at WWF, said: “The climate and nature crisis impacts us all – so it’s only right that we should all get a say in how we tackle it. The government needs an urgent and credible strategy to show how the UK can reach its net zero emissions targets – and this groundswell of public voices and choices on the finer detail of cutting emissions can help make this a reality."

"By letting the government know what we want, we can help shape a greener and more resilient future.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower, a Principal Partner of COP26, said: “Tackling climate change is an opportunity for us all to make positive changes for our environment. Already all our business decisions are being made with Net Zero in mind. All the power we generate comes from our UK wind farms, onshore and offshore, and every new customer we sign up gets 100% green electricity as a matter of course."

Anyone can take part by accessing the Climate Calculator here.